Zooey Deschanel is Fox's 'New Girl'

The fall season's best new sitcom, Fox's "New Girl" debuts at 8 p.m. Tuesday (September 20) on WVUE-TV. This post contains my take (repurposed) from the September 18 Times-Picayune Fall TV Preview, a value-added bonus quote from someone involved in the show, helpful links, perhaps a video clip, for sure a sampling of opinions from other critics, and, as always, a nurturing comments section way down below where your opinion is welcome and, once deposited, certain to be treated with respect and dignity by your fellow comment-stream contributors.

Fox'New Girl.'

New Girl

Time slot: 8 p.m.

Premieres: Sept. 20.

Premise: A kooky young woman rebounds from a bad breakup by moving in with three dudes.

I say: Deschanel and her new show have generated a big wave of anticipation from critics, and rightfully so. She and it are the likely comedy breakouts of the new season.

Alternative title: “(500) Days, Or at Least Six or Seven Seasons, of Zooey”

Summer TV Tour quote: "Actually, I remember the first time that she came in, she read with the guys auditioning to play the guy parts," said Liz Meriwether, executive producer, of Deschanel. "I remember, the feeling in the room was, just the second she opened her mouth to do this scene, everybody was, 'This is a perfect match of character and actress.'"

Deschanel's kind of retro femininity is a different one, refracted through her particular, Brooklyn-hipster style of reclaiming examples of mid-century domesticity and artisanal whimsy. Actress, singer and fashion tastemaker, Deschanel is a hanger of retro prints, a strummer of ukeleles, a wearer of vintage. She's what etsy.com would look like if it grew legs and came to life.

All eyes at the party train on her, the paragon of femininity in a formfitting white lace minidress and cascading brunette waves. “I’m not gonna lie. She’s the reason I’ve had bangs for seven years,” whispers one female guest. “Those eyes!” says another upon meeting her. “I kept thinking, If I had to die and I had to be looking at one thing when I died, it would be your face.”